THIS
IS US!
Meena Chander set up the
This is Us conference three years
ago, with the ambition of
highlighting matters of diversity
within the events industry. In that
time, the topic has ascended the
agenda and planning for the
2020 edition is full steam ahead.
Chander answers our questions.
Tell us
about the
This is Us
Conference
What is the
plan for the
2020
edition: will
it be hybrid
or fully
online, how
will you
manage
this?
Tell us
about the
content and
speakers?
21
The This Is Us Diversity
Conference,
now in its third
year, is an event to help companies
advance diversity and inclusion in
the workplace. Diversity and
inclusion in the workplace aren’t
just ‘best practice’, it is a business
basic. The first two years
concentrated on LGBTQ+ issues in
order to explore a particular area in
detail and as a way of establishing
the brand. To reach a wider
audience, I have included a focus
on BAME and women as additional
areas of diversity and inclusion for
2020.
Due to the uncertainty of the
current climate, I have decided to
go 100% online. The feedback from
my speakers showed that this year
they prefer not to travel or be
cooped up in a conference room in
light of the virus and risk of
infection spreading.
Although I prefer a face-to-face
environment, as relationships are
made, and ideas are best
exchanged in groups of people, this
personal interaction will still be
possible. The production company I
have partnered with will provide a
live broadcast, a secure login for
delegates, plus chat functions and
breakout rooms. The 2020 edition
will also run as three smaller
events, which allows delegates to
pick a topic that is most relevant to
their business and prevents them
from sitting at a computer for eight
hours. Shorter bursts are the way
forward with online events.
The content will include online talks,
panels and workshops from a range
of companies and organisations who
will share best practice, offer training
materials and address important
conversations around inclusion and
diversity.
I have carefully chosen a different
chair for each session. The LGBTQ+
session will be chaired by Jacqui
Gavin, who is a trans woman from
Milton Keynes, and will lead an
‘unconference’, which has no set
agenda and allows for open
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